ernst



(No Model.)

J. C. ERNST. BICYCLE BRAKE.

Patented May 1'7, 1898.

a'rnnr trice..

J OIfIN C. ERNST, OFFLEMINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN OR OF TWO-TI-IIRDS TO FRANK B. MALLORY AND WILLIAM W. IIAVV'KE, OF SAME PLACE.

BICYCLE-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,030, dated May 17, 1898. Application filed September 19,1896. Serial No. 606,394. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern..-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. ERNST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flemington, in the county of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Brakes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to brakes for bicycles.

It consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described and specifically claimed. 1

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a bicycle, showing my improved invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of a handle-bar and handle with my invention applied thereon. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the line xx of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the balls or flexible connecting means employed in the brake. Fig. 5 is a detail view of portion of a wheel showing, a brake-shoe provided with a brush; and Fig. Gis a detail perspective View of a portion of the plunger audits actuating means.

A in the drawings represents the handlebar of the bicycle, which is provided with a 'longitudinal slot a near its outer end.

B represents a revoluble sleeve to which the handheld C is firmly secured, so as to revolve therewith. The revoluble sleeve is provided -with a spiral-shaped or worm slot D. The pitch of the slot may be steep at the beginning and reduced to a very gradual one near the outer end of the same, as shown in the drawings, so that the brake can be applied with a quick start forward by a slight turn of the handhold or the pitch may be uniform throughout and the brake be applied with great power to the tire of the Wheel and cannot work backward and release the brake without being positively turned by the hand. A plunger-rod E, also head e, operates in the handle-bar A. The plunger-rod is also provided with a transversely-arranged pin e', which works in the longitudinal slot a in the handle-bar and in the spiral slot D. Itis ob-v vious that When thesleeve B is revolved forl ward or backward the pin will traverse the slotsa and D and be forced to travel in a longitudin al direction through the elongated slot ain the handle-bar A. To facilitate the movement of the pin through the spiral slot D, the pin e may be provided with an antifrictionroller CZ, which will bear against the walls of the slot a, and also be provided with a guiding-shoe e2, which bears upon thewalls of the slot D.

F represents a tube or guideway which eX- tends through the head-post and into the handie-bar of the machine and directs the movement of the balls Gr. These balls bear upon the upper end of the brake-shoe I-I, which latter is attached to the brake-shoe I. By the use of balls an operating means between the plunger-rod andthe brakeshoe is secured, which can be easily moved through the curved portions of the handle-bar and head. In Fig. Ll I have shown the connections made in the form of dumb-bells as an equivalent of the balls. y

J represents a springwhich is connected to the brake-shoe rod and bears with its lower end against the brake-shoe for returning the brake-shoe when the plunger-rod is moved backward.

`In Fig. 5 I show the brake-shoe I, provided with a scraping-brush.

One serious objection to the brakes now in use is that the tire collects mud and sometimes sharp pieces of stone which adhere to it, so that when the brake isV applied the tire is liable to be cut or punctured by the same. To overcome this and prevent all danger of the tire being punctured from the use of the brake, I contemplate providing the brakeshoe with a safety-scraper or brush, as shown, which is arranged so as to come in contact and thoroughly clean the tire before the brake touches it, and when the brake is released the brush will be automatically lifted from the tire, so as not to cause friction, and thus prevent any danger to the tire.

The operation of the brake will be obvious from the aforegoing description and an inspection of the drawings. It will be observed that when the brake is applied the spring J cannot throw the pin back through the spiral IOO 'handle-bar provided with a longitudinal slot,

slot and that the brake can only be taken oi by turning the sleeve backward. This is important, as it secures a perfectly safe brake which does not have to be constantly held in place by the hand or by any other auxiliary locking means. As soon as the handle is rotated to release the brake the spring will automatically raise the brake-shoe from off the tire.

I-Iaving now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a bicycle-brake, the combination ot' a a revoluble sleeve provided with a spiral slot, a plunger provided with a pin which operates in said slots, a brake-shoe, balls interposed between the brake-shoe and the plunger for pushing the brake-shoe against the tire of the wheel and means for returning the brakeshoe, substantially as described.

2. In a bicycle-brake, the combination of a handle-bar provided with a longitudinal slot, an independently-removable sleeve slipped on the handle-bar and provided with a spiral slotwhich extends through the walls of the sleeve, a handhold secured to said removable sleeve, a plunger provided with a pin, a brakeshoe, balls interposed between the brake-shoe and the plunger for forcing the brake-slice against the tire of the wheel, and a spring for returning the brake-shoe, substantially as described.

3. In a bicycle-brake, the combination of a handle-bar provided with a longitudinal slot, a revoluble sleeve fitted on the handle-bar, and provided with a spiral slot, a handhold secured to said sleeve whereby it may be l turned, a plunger provided with a pin which operates in the said slots, a brake-shoe, and balls interposed between the brake-shoe and the plunger for pushing the brake-shoe into operatiye position, and means for returning the brake-shoe, substantially as described.

4. In a bicycle-brake, the combination of a handle-bar provided with a longitudinal slot, a revoluble sleeve fitted on the handle-bar, and provided with a spiral slot, a handheld secured to said sleeve, a plunger provided with a pin which operates in the said slots, a roller on said pin Awhich bears against the walls of the slot in the handle-bar, and a shoe which bears upon the walls of the slot in the sleeve, a brake-shoe, iieXible means interposed between the 'brake-shoe and the plunger for pushing the brake-shoe into operative position, and means for returning the brakeshoc, substantially as described.

5. In a bicycle-brake, the combination of a handle-bar provided with a longitudinal slot, a revoluble sleeve fitted upon the handle-bar, and provided with a spiral slot, a handheld secured to said sleeve, a plunger provided with a pin which operates in said slots, a brake-shoe, a tube or guideway secured in the handle-bar and guide-post, and balls in said tube, interposed between the brake-shoe and the plunger for pushing the brake-shoe into operative position, and means for returning the brake-shoe,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. ERNST.

Witnesses:

J. L. CONNET, J oHN B. HoPEwELL. 

